Hi Jim
Please feel free to publish all or portions of the following article. If you would like to interview Acamea, or have her provide email comments, please let me know and I will coordinate.
Best,
Terry
Forget New Year’s Resolutions, Single Women; Time For New Decade Resolutions
Not only is 2020 a New Year, but a new decade is dawning as well, and some people are framing their annual resolutions in a bigger picture than just the next 12 months.
For single women aspiring to embrace being single and enrich their lives throughout the experience, looking ahead 10 years provides a longer lens to envision different aspects of self-development and expand the list of goals.
So rather than making New Year’s resolutions, Acamea Deadwiler (www.Acameadeadwiler.com), author of Single That: Dispelling the Top 10 Myths of the Single Woman, says 2020 is an apt time for single women to declare “new decade resolutions” that can result in a joyous and fulfilling life.
“My ultimate new decade resolution for single women is to not allow a relationship status to define them,” says Deadwiler. “I think that's where much of the discontent of being single comes from. It's the belief that something is wrong with being single and that it says something unflattering about you as a woman.
“So, you fight against it. You have to remind yourself that you are whole and worthwhile with or without a significant other. Remind yourself until you believe it, and practice behavior that reinforces the belief.”
Deadwiler suggests five new decade resolutions for single women:
Enjoy life as a “Party of One.” “Missing out on enjoyable activities can only add to feelings of discontent and make being single seem worse than it actually is,” Deadwiler says. “Don't allow being single to serve as an unnecessary hindrance that holds you back.”
Find your tribe. “Seek out people who share your interests so that you don't have to do things alone,” Deadwiler says. “There's a Meetup group for nearly any interest you may have. Whatever you enjoy, there's someone else who enjoys it, too, and is also looking for people with whom to do those things.”
Learn a new skill. It’s a wise use of time when single to focus on new skills that nurture personal development. “The more you learn and grow, the more complete you will feel when alone,” Deadwiler says. “The sense of accomplishment that you get will do wonders for your self-esteem.”
Stand up for your singlehood. People who are single can build confidence in their status by kindly reminding critics not to hold singlehood against them. “One who is single shouldn’t allow others to use your relationship status against you or speak of being single as a personal indictment,” Deadwiler says. “It's OK to correct people or gently nudge them away from the idea that your being single is a problem that needs to be fixed. Tell them what you've learned and experienced and how you've enjoyed your time alone.”
Permit yourself to be happy. “It's easy to get caught up in the idea that you should be on the prowl for a mate and that there is something abnormal about being alone,” Deadwiler says. “But you don't have to be so focused on finding love that you can't enjoy your own company.”
“These new decade resolutions allow you to focus on yourself while serving as a reminder that you matter,” Deadwiler says. “You see yourself as a whole person and can be reminded of who you are – independent of anyone else. In these moments, that person feels like enough.”
About Acamea Deadwiler
Acamea Deadwiler (www.Acameadeadwiler.com) is the author of Single That: Dispelling the Top 10 Myths of the Single Woman. She is an accomplished writer and freelance journalist who has appeared on the FOX television network talk show, MORE. Deadwiler was designated as a Top 100 Contributor on Yahoo! with more than 1 million page views, and she has held Top Writer status in both love and feminism for Medium. She is also an event speaker who covers overcoming hardships, love and relationships. Deadwiler is a graduate of Valparaiso University with a background in communication
------------------
Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up for your own updates.
Happy New Year! I hope this holiday season is bringing you and your family much joy and happiness.
As we close the door on a fruitful year and look ahead to 2020, I want you to know how grateful ExcelinEd is for all you have achieved for students in 2019 in states across the nation. Thanks to your partnership and support of our work, more than 600,000 children are newly benefiting from student-centered policies. Equally impressive, $600 million in new funding was added to states’ student-centered programs in early literacy, educational opportunity, computer science, and workforce and college acceleration.
These are inspiring numbers, yet they are far from what’s needed to reach every student with a transformative education. Parents everywhere know their children face real challenges in preparing for a successful future in a rapidly changing economy. They’re rightfully concerned that many of the skills needed in college and the workforce are not being taught in today’s classrooms.
ExcelinEd has policy solutions to change that. We are actively expanding our research that examines whether workforce credentials offered in states actually align with real-world jobs in those regions. We are exploring how more students can participate in college acceleration opportunities, and we are identifying solutions that address the skills gap in information technology and computer science.
At the same time, the fundamentals of a sound education—reading and math—remain an ExcelinEd focus. Data in the 2019 Nation’s Report Card show that K-12 academic achievement is mostly stagnant and that, with a few exceptions, notably Mississippi and some urban districts, student progress isn’t advancing well enough. I see that as a call to action to engage with states making progress…and to engage even deeper with states needing help with the strategic policies that impact achievement, namely accountability, early literacy, choice, teacher development and student-centered funding.
We know from decades of experience that policy has the power to change lives. I hope you agree and that you’ll join us in 2020 as we work to make a difference for students across the nation.
Here’s a step you can take today: Mark your new calendars for November 17-18. That’s when more than a thousand education leaders and advocates will convene in Washington, D.C., for our 13th annual National Summit on Education. Each year, these days together turn out to be the most strategic and valuable of the year, and they promise to be a great opportunity to showcase all we’ve accomplished together in 2020.
I can’t wait to get started.
Patricia Levesque
CEO, ExcelinEd
How Business Leaders Can Help Communities in 2020
By Quint Studer
In August, the New York Times ran an article on the Business Roundtable's new statement on the purpose of a corporation. The point of this official statement—signed by leaders of companies like Amazon, Walmart, Pepsi, and Apple—was that corporations shouldn't just advance shareholder interests. They should also commit to investing in employees, dealing fairly and ethically with suppliers, supporting the communities in which they work, and so forth.
As someone who works to revitalize communities across the U.S., I applaud these leaders for their desire to redefine the role of business in the community. Their statement supports what I've felt for years: When business leaders play a pivotal role in shaping their communities, everyone wins.
Corporate leaders and CEOs are well positioned to make a huge impact on the future of their communities. Not only do they have the financial wherewithal to drive progress, they have the influence, the social capital, the expertise, and the smarts to do so. They are the people Gallup Chairman and CEO Jim Clifton calls "tribal leaders." They know how to get things done. And we really need them to work shoulder to shoulder with government leaders, employees, and citizens to create vibrant communities where people want to live, work, and play.
Right now, many communities are struggling with a leadership void. In part, it's because their "pillars"—institutions like banks, hospitals, businesses, and newspapers—used to be locally owned. Now, many have been bought by larger corporations. This means the leaders who run these organizations may be in the community for only a short period of time. It's no longer a given that they'll retire there. And this creates a vacuum in long-term leadership planning.
That's why it is good to see these CEOs sign the new Business Roundtable statement. It speaks to the need for local business leaders to step up to the challenge and fill that void. Drawing on my experience in community revitalization, if you're a corporate leader, there are several places I believe we could use your help:
Be a hybrid investor. We all know what pure philanthropy is: funding a new foundation, sponsoring a piece of public art, or giving financially in some other way. This is always deeply appreciated. However, hybrid philanthropy is another great option that pays off for the investor and the community. This means making a local investment that does yield a return—just not as much of a return as you might get with other investments.
A hybrid investor might build a residential complex downtown; contribute to a co-op space; or invest in a new, local company in their community. When you make the first move, it's a confidence-builder. Things start to pop. It also helps gets wealth off the sidelines. And it sends a powerful message that it's okay to take a smaller financial return when the real ROI is a better community for everyone.
Support an entrepreneurial ecosystem. A strong small business presence is the economic engine that drives most communities. You can strengthen this ecosystem in many ways. For example, you might join other leaders in town to fund a new business challenge. You might help a promising entrepreneur pay start-up costs or offer a lease with rent that moves up and down with revenue. Even simple things like buying from a new local business or sending strong job candidates their way can help.
Mostly, you can use your social capital to bring small business owners together and help them form meaningful connections and collaborate on issues that impact everyone (like tackling the talent drain, how best to create a vibrant downtown, how to create opportunity for young people, etc.). What you're doing is helping galvanize the army of citizens who happen to be small business owners with the purpose of working toward revitalization.
Share your skills and expertise with other leaders (especially small business owners). Helping new ventures to get off the ground is only the start. Thriving communities are ones in which local businesses can be successful long-term. That means they need to offer plenty of opportunities to teach leadership fundamentals and other vital business skills.
If your chamber offers training and development sessions, get involved. Lead a workshop or share company resources. Open up your corporate training to local small businesses. Or be a mentor: In The Coming Jobs War, Jim Clifton writes, "The heroes America needs for this moment in history will come from those who guide, advise, encourage, and mentor small business to success."
Get involved in raising civic IQ. Informed citizens are the "boots on the ground" that make things happen. But until they understand what's going on and how they will benefit, they'll never get on board with revitalization plans. Civic education helps people understand the why behind growth initiatives. It gets more people to buy in until, eventually, a community achieves the critical mass that allows progress to happen faster.
The easiest way to educate is to bring in speakers. In Pensacola we do this via our CivicCon series, which regularly brings in experts in community-building. There are many ways business leaders can help. For example, sponsor a speaking event, offer up a venue, or share your company's resources (IT talent or social media staff).
These are only a few suggestions. There are many others. Take stock of your gifts and resources. Think about what you might have to offer. Then, reach out to local community leaders and ask what you can do to help. We all need strong, vital, vibrant communities that work well for everyone, and we can all play a role in building them. If there is a way we can help, we have a human responsibility to make it happen.
# # #
Quint Studer is author of Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America and Wall Street Journal bestseller The Busy Leader's Handbook: How to Lead People and Places That Thrive. He is founder of Pensacola's Studer Community Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the community's quality of life, and Vibrant Community Partners, which coaches communities in building out a blueprint for achieving growth and excellence. He is a businessman, a visionary, an entrepreneur, and a mentor to many. He currently serves as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of West Florida. For more information, please visit www.thebusyleadershandbook.com, www.vibrantcommunityblueprint.com, and www.studeri.org.
======================
Hey members of the media! Hope everyone had a great New Year's!
After a recent incident, we wanted to remind people about the dangers and legalities of trying to keep a wild animal as a pet. Thanks for spreading this message!
For Immediate Release
Jan. 2, 2020
DWR reminds public about not illegally keeping wildlife
VERNAL — Baby animals are often hard to resist, especially wild baby animals. Utahns often come across baby wildlife while recreating outdoors, but it is important not to pick them up or take them home.
A 5-year-old boy was significantly scratched by a family’s pet raccoon in Uintah County on Dec. 11, requiring emergency surgery. Because of this recent incident, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the Tri-County Health Department would like to remind the public about the dangers and legalities of trying to keep a wild animal as a pet.
Illegal to possess wildlife without proper permits
Some wild animals are not protected under Utah state law, meaning you do not have to possess a valid hunting or trapping license to harvest them. However, there are different rules in order to keep one in your possession. Wild animals, like raccoons (which are not native to Utah) and coyotes, require a federally issued permit in order to house them in captivity. The importation, distribution, relocation, holding in captivity or possession of live coyotes and live raccoons in Utah is governed by the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Board and is prohibited under Utah Code Section 4-23-11 and Rule R58-14, except as permitted by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
Unpermitted animals may be seized immediately by the DWR, Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and Food, animal control officers or peace officers if the person possessing the animal cannot produce a valid permit for each individual animal. The following wild animals are considered non-protected wildlife in the state of Utah:
Raccoons
Striped skunks
Coyotes
Red fox
You may be written a citation for illegally possessing these animals, which is a Class B misdemeanor.
“It’s important to protect the health, welfare and safety of the public, as well as other terrestrial wildlife,” Tonya Kieffer-Selby, DWR Outreach Manager, said “We do not want the public to avoid supporting wildlife, but we do want people to do it legally and safely.”
Disease concerns
Diseases, viruses and parasites from non-protected wildlife can be transmitted to humans and pets via saliva, feces or urine. Viral diseases of raccoons include rabies, canine distemper, raccoon parvoviral enteritis, infectious canine hepatitis and pseudorabies. Raccoons can also carry and transmit Leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis, which can be lethal for unborn babies.
Raccoons can also be infected by a Baylisascaris parasite, which is caused by a roundworm. Raccoons seldom display any symptoms of having these roundworms and can transmit them via their feces. If infected, this parasite can cause extreme damage to the human eye, organs and brain. Chemicals do not kill roundworms or their eggs, so it is extremely important to avoid coming into contact with feces and to wash your hands when outdoors.
“If you do experience a suspicious bite, seek medical attention; local health care providers are educated on how to handle these situations,” Cynthia Mattinson with the Tri-County Health Department said. “We work closely with our hospitals, emergency departments, emergency medical services and clinics to ensure the safety and health of the public during these kind of incidents.”
What to do if you come across a baby wild animal?
Typically, when people encounter a baby animal in the wild that they think has been abandoned, its mother is actually nearby. It is recommended to leave the animal where you found it and to not touch it. If you do have concerns, please contact the nearest DWR office.
For more tips about how to safely live with wildlife, visit the Wild Aware Utah website.
